pH adjustment to enhance the nitrification process, using sodium hydroxide

Liquid sodium hypochlorite feed system for membrane cleaning

Automatic filter backwash and cleaning system

System controller and automatic telephone dialer/alarm system.

Green roof produces its own energy

When designing the Solaire, authorities from Battery Park City hired a team of experts to develop what has since become a definitive model for all green, high-rise residential buildings—the Battery Park City Authority Residential Environmental Guidelines. One of these guidelines focuses on energy savings and, in the design of the Solaire, took root in the development of “green roofs.” In addition to saving energy, the green roofs provide Solaire residents a number of benefits conducive to sustainable living.

One of the building specifications required the integration of photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate solar energy equal to 5% of the building's base electrical load. PV panels are essentially laminated glass with silicon cells inside, wired to create energy. The two primary benefits of PV are energy independence and environmental compatibility—essential components to sustainable design. For this system, silicon wafers recycled from old computer parts were wedged between two pieces of glass; when sunlight hits the silicon surface, free electrons are produced, yielding energy without noise or moving parts.

When building the Solaire, the design team faced an enormous challenge deciding in which areas to place PV panels. Ultimately, the team decided to incorporate half of the panels on the front of the building, and the other half on the roof. The PV panels were installed on the walls of the “bulkhead,” which screens the cooling tower and house tank on the roof of the building. The panels became not only decorative add-ons, but also an integral part of building design, acting as both an energy producer and an enclosure. The incorporation of PV panels into the Solaire has become the most prominent design signature of the building.

The Solaire's green roofs are located on the flat roofs of the 19th and 28th floors. In addition to saving solar energy, the roofs have many other beneficial uses. For example, they serve as a receptacle for collecting rainwater, which is then used for irrigation. The green roofs also help keep the average apartment temperature down by approximately 10° F daily during the summer.